Water jet powered vessel



KUNQ M. Y. CH'IU WATER JET POWERED VESSEL Jan. 6, 1970 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept. 3, 1968 9 WW KUNO M. Y. emu WATER JET POWERED VESSEL I-ilad Sept. 25, 1968 :3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIL KU/VO M. Y; CH'IU United States Patent Office US. Cl. 115-70 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention concerns the application of the water-jet principle as a means of power instead of using oars or paddles alone in small vessels such as row-boats. The jet power is obtained by the muscular activities of the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention uses two separate piston-cylinder sets which draw water into cylinders and press the water out through subsidiary tubes under the weight of a human body transmitted by pistons. The jet effect of water will be sufiicient to move forward a floating board on a calm lake.

To this end I provide a flexible exhaust tube from which water is forced out at about lbs/sq. in. or more depending on the weight so applied.

I also provide a horizontal foot-lever operated in a manner of seasaw movement by the operator shifting the weight of his body in a standing position from one foot to another; this action draws or expels the water through the cylinder.

I further provide a vertical lever which is to be connected at its lower end by a string to the end of a flexible outlet tube. By shifting the upper part of the lever to right or left, the flexible tube will be automatically pulled over to the corresponding positions so as to change the directions of the glider thereof during the course of its gentle, forward glide.

My invention can employ a weight which can slide over a fixed bar to raise or lower the prow of the vessel to facilitate gliding efliciency on water.

An elongated buoyant pontoon can be firmly attached near the edges under the board, thus developing enough buoyancy to support the necessary weight of the board and other loads on top of it against capsizing.

As a result, my invention provides amusement, exercise and outdoor life for individuals as well as families.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my vessel or glider In use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the glider, showing the positions of the cylinder, the vertical lever and its supporting frame, the horizontal lever with its pivot frame, the oar posts and the sliding weight with its fixed bars;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the glider, showing the cylinders with their resistance-reducing shields, conducting tubes and their connections, buoyancy tubes and string connections;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of the glider, showing the direction change of the vertical lever;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the glider, illustrating the board, center and edge buoyancy tubes, vertical direction lever attached to a supporting frame, cylinder and piston unit, cylinder resistance-reducing shield, water conducting pipe, reflexible pipe, oar post, foot-rest stirrup connected to piston rod, sliding weight and its fixed bar, and the rowing stand;

3,487,806 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of the glider, showing the right turn position of the vertical lever with its relation to the directional reaction of the flexible tube; and

FIG. 8 is another end elevation view of the glider, showing the left turn position of the vertical lever and the directional response of the flexible tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The glider has a board firmly built together by a few smaller pieces 1, 2, 3. There are two cylinder-piston units 4 for single-person glider, four for a two person glider and six for a three person glider. Each piston is connected by a vertical movable rod 5 which is again connected at its upper end to one end of a horizontal lever 6 which is pivoted at the center to a supporting frame 7. The up-down movements of the piston caused by shifting the weight of the body of an operator draw water into one cylinder through its opening 8 at the bottom with an automatic movement of a valve 9 which opens during the upward movement of the piston while the weight of the body at the other end of the lever presses down the piston simultaneously. This downward movement of the piston forces the water out through a pipe 10 having valves 11. These valves Work automaticallyopening at one and closing at the other at the same time -to allow the water to rush out through a flexible duct or pipe 12. This movement is one-way 'traflic.

The total dead weight of the glider plus its total load is supported by two elongated pontoons 13 which are attached to the sides of the board at its bottom near the prow. The total buoyancy for single-person glider will be 300-350 lbs. so as to allow the water line to be just below the surface of the bottom of the board.

Two resistance-reducing shields 15 placed in front of the cylinders to reduce the resistance of water against them during gliding forward.

On top of each end of the horizontal lever 6 is attached a foot-rest stirrup 16. A vertical direction lever 17 is pivoted near its midpoint 18 and is fastened at the lower end by a string 19 which through one end of a small tube 20 and passes out at the other end; after having been connected to the flexible pipe, the string passes through another small tube 21 and then emerges to be connected again to the same lower end of the lever which is to be guided and steadied by a frame 22 vertically. Two oar-posts 23 can be used to insure that the glider can be rowed forward with oars also. A fixed rowing stand 26 is available. A sliding weight 24 rides securely over a fixed bar 25 to help give better balance to the glider by sliding to a certain point where the best balance can be maintained during the course of gentle or brisk gliding.

While I have described by invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

1. A vessel adapted to travel on water comprising:

a floating board having a prow and a stern;

a hollow flexible tube having open front and rear ends, the rear end being disposed somewhat above the front end, the tube being disposed generally horizontally below the board with the rear end adjacent the stern;

manually operable means disposed on and through said board and communicating both with the water and the front end of the tube, said means being adapted to be actuated by pedals operated by an occupant on the board to pump water through said tube out of said rear end to produce a water jet to propel said board in the water; and

steering means operated by said occupant to move the rear end without moving the body of the tube to a position either to the left or right of the longitudinal center line of the board or to a position aligned with the center line whereby the board can be steered.

2. A vessel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operable means includes a pair of pumps acting in phase opposition, each pump being operated by a corresponding foot, one foot being raised while the other foot is lowered in a see-saw like operation.

3. A vessel as set forth in claim 2 wherein said steering means includes an elongated rod pivotally secured to a. supporting frame at a point intermediate the rod ends, said rod being disposed vertically for steering straight ahead and being pivoted to be inclined to the left or to the right as viewed from the prow of the board to cause the board to turn in one direction or the other from the straight ahead position.

4. A vessel as set forth in claim 3 wherein said steering means includes a cable mechanism interconnecting the bottom end of said rod to the rear end of said tube.

5. A vessel as set forth in claim 3 wherein each pump has a vertical piston connected at its top end to a separate foot receiving stirrup, said stirrups being interconnected by an elongated member extending generally transversely to said rod and pivotally secured at its midpoint to a frame secured to said board.

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,313,265 4/1967 Guin 115-70 3,408,976 11/1968 Ellis 11570 TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner 

